New Party quits blue camp, urges cross-strait unity

By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff Reporter

Tue, Nov 27, 2012 - Page 1

The pro-unification New Party yesterday vowed to pursue grass-roots actions to push for the opening up of Taiwan to China on all fronts to build a “new China where people enjoy freedom, democracy and equal prosperity,” as New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明) announced the party was leaving the pan-blue camp.

“We must end the vicious infighting between the blue and green camps to revive Taiwan’s economy and rid ourselves of the fears, aversion — or even antagonism — toward the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] to create a good future for our descendants,” Yok said.

The New Party has decided to set the ball rolling for the return of political parties in the red, blue and green camp “to orthodox Chinese culture,” thus earning a spot on the world stage, he said.

Speaking at a press conference, Yok made six proposals to open up the nation to China: eliminate legal discrimination against Chinese in Taiwan, lift bans on investments by China in construction engineering to strengthen local infrastructure, allow Chinese-funded enterprises into Taiwan, recruit Chinese professionals, grant landing rights to Chinese media and initiate political talks with Beijing to create mutual military trust.

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) can only establish a lasting legacy when he negotiates a cross-strait peace treaty and truce agreement, he said.

The New Party used to support Chinese Nationalist Pary (KMT) candidates in elections “out of fear that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would regain power, but we have to get rid of this complex and work with those who support our party’s views,” Yok said.

Praising former DPP chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), who recently made a landmark trip to Beijing, Yok said he “very much agreed with” the remarks Hsieh made in China.

“Hsieh more or less repeated the New Party’s positions. We are all Chinese. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one family and have brotherhood relations,” he said.

Yok said he was willing to meet Hsieh, DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to exchange ideas as long as they moved in broadly the same direction, despite differences in envisioning the future for cross-strait relations.

The New Party had high hopes of Ma, but the president has neglected to listen to his supporters, instead yielding to the opposition parties.

Of course, when the opposition parties make positive suggestions, Ma should take their advice, but when they adopt a policy of blind opposition, the president has shown that he lacks the bravery and courage to challenge them, Yok said.

“Ma has been underperforming in recent years. It would be irresponsible of the New Party to remain in the blue camp,” he said.

New Party Secretary-General Lee Sheng-feng (李勝峰) said that the party will definitely be present in the 2014 seven-in-one local elections.

Hsieh’s office spokesman, Lin He-ming (林鶴明), said the office had no comment for the time being.